Updated: 2014-12-17 06:56 By Chai Hua in Shenzhen(HK Edition)

Guangzhou's Nansha Islands will be included in the proposed Guangdong Free Trade Zone (FTZ), which experts believe will create tremendous business opportunities for the shipping industry of Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

The Guangzhou government said on Monday it hopes to cooperate with Hong Kong to strengthen its existing Guangzhou Shipping Exchange.

The Guangzhou Shipping Exchange, established in 2011 and moved to Nansha Islands in 2012, is the first legal ship transaction service institute in the Pearl River Delta region, providing services for ship owners, port enterprises, industry investors and shipping finance organizations.

So far, the Hong Kong-based philanthropic organization Fok Ying Tung Foundation has built about 300 yacht berths, while another two companies have shown interest in investing in berths, according to industry sources.

"Before the FTZ came on, Guangzhou was not attractive enough for Hong Kong to build such a shipping exchange," said Zheng Tianxiang, a professor at the Center for Studies of Hong Kong, Macao and the Pearl River Delta at Sun Yat-sen University. "Now, the opportunity has come."

Zheng speculated that mutual free travel of yachts and cruise ships between Nansha Islands and the HKSAR will be allowed, bringing more exchanges and trading between the two sides.

On Monday, the State Council approved 15 innovative financial policies for the Nansha Islands to further cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao in financial services, especially the shipping finance industry.

"Nansha has the foundation for shipbuilding and shipping with a large cargo throughput. Hong Kong's advantages are its container industry, international experience in legal matters and an international shipping network."

Last year's cargo throughput at Nansha Port exceeded 10 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) with 10 deep-water container berths. The port is expanding another four berths, which may add another 5.7 million TEUs each year.

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Nansha shipping exchange with HK mooted